Tharaka-Nithi County Commissioner David Gitonga has launched a major crackdown on rising cases of coffee theft in the county.

Reports of rising incidence of coffee theft come at a time Kenya is waging an aggressive domestic and international campaign to produce and sell more coffee.

Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives Wycliffe Oparanya has announced plans to raise Kenya’s annual exports from the current 50,000-70,000 tonnes to over 150,000 tonnes per annum. Thus, there are fears coffee theft will compromise production, in addition to raising legal concerns as was the experience of the 1970s when Ugandan coffee was smuggled into Kenya and sold in international markets at throw-away prices.

Speaking during a strategic security and stakeholder meeting in Chuka town, Gitonga said they team had reached a consensus that buying coffee directly from farms remains illegal.

“Anyone found engaging in any form malpractice regarding coffee trade, whether stealing, brokerage or unauthorised buying of the commodity will be treated as a part of the wider criminal cartel in the sector,” he warned.

The county commissioner said there is an urgent need to modernise farm security, calling for the installation of CCTV cameras in coffee factories, stores and transit points. Such technology, he added, is essential for monitoring activities and supporting investigations when theft occurs.

“We must adopt modern tools like CCTV to deter criminals and track movements around coffee facilities,” he said.

Gitonga urged cooperative societies to prioritise employment of local youth as security personnel, noting their strength, agility and capacity to respond effectively to threats.

“Young people have the requisite energy needed to respond quickly in case of an incident, thus, involving them strengthens security and helps in addressing unemployment at the same time,” said  Gitonga.

Moreover, the CC condemned the existence of unscrupulous brokers, who he accused of driving the illegal coffee market. He called on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or dubious transactions to the relevant authorities for necessary action.

“These brokers are at the heart of the problem. We are asking all residents to report any suspicious activity immediately, so that we can take swift action,” he said.

Gitonga urged farmers’ groups not to rely solely on coffee as their main source of income, encouraging diversification into other profitable sectors such as macadamia farming, dairy production and horticulture.

“We must empower our farmers by encouraging them to explore other viable agricultural ventures. Coffee is important but it should not be the only pillar of our local economy,” Gitonga said.

Meanwhile, to ensure effective protection of coffee during harvesting, the CC directed that all coffee-related activities from picking to transport, be reported in advance to the area chiefs and the respective Officers Commanding police Stations to enable security teams to provide timely and adequate protection.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / Dickson Mwiti and Christine Ngitori

 Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner David Gitonga addressing a press conference after meeting security personnel and coffee stakeholders. Photo by Christine Ngitori.